Noon, are you crazy?

Well, the weather has cooled down a little bit, so I thought running earlier today would be beneficial. We had daylight savings and were starving, but didn't want to get our lunch schedule off, so we decided to run. Yes, I ran the entire island in the hot sun despite it being quite beautiful.

The first loop was 12:30 min and the whole thing was a total of 28:45. Whoo hoo!

Now to write papers!

Restful weekend

Yes, the stress got to me on Saturday, but I knew everything would be fine and that I'd make it through, like I always do. Yesterday I got a couple assignments finished and rested. The Americans were still here, so they took us out to a nice lunch at a restaurant that I've wanted to go to for a long time. The sun was shining and it was just overall pleasant.

Dan and I walked a lot, just to enjoy the sunshine. I even took a mid-day nap, very
Spanish of me, which was thoroughly enjoyed!

Church was quite amazing. We showed up and it was standing room only. We found seats, but were surprised by the shortened worship time. We then experienced and amazing cultural experience with the gypsies. The pastor and a visiting pastor from Barcelona (who preached Saturday evening) were combining their families. The Barcelona pastor's son asked for our pastor's daughter's hand in marriage. It was quite amazing.

I still don't know how the whole culture works. I know arranged marriages are still done, but I don't know if the pastor's daughter was happy, indifferent, or what. It was quite an experience to watch and be apart of and I can't wait to learn more about the culture.

Anyway, I have to get myself to write some papers! No more tears!

The Whole Island!

Well, today I decided that I'd run for 30 minutes at a slower speed and just see where it took me. Dan ran with me, speeding around many loops to get the energy out of him. The funny thing is that it took 30 minutes to run the entire island slowly! I was shocked.

The worst part of running slowly is that it seems harder on my knees because I'm taking shorter strides. I did have a lot of energy at the end, so next time I know where to speed up.

You may be wondering what it took me to run the first loop slowly that I always wanted to get under 12 min. It only took 13 min. I can handle that!

As for the week, I made it through finals and was quite excited for the weekend to get caught up on my reading. I have two papers to write still and a lot of financial management work. I was reduced to tears again for that class. I am not understanding the material and then to write a 20 page papers is so overwhelming, I just was beside myself. Luckily, Dan forced me out of the house to run and I feel so much better!

There is a wine festival going on in Mérida to promote local vineyards. You can get tinto for 1.50 euros and get a stamp. After three stamps you get a prize. I'm hoping for an umbrella so we are ready for winter :)

It's a Beautiful Day

I am reminded of U2's song "beautiful day" because it is a beautiful day in Mérida! I just got back from running. Again, I kept the first loop under 12 minutes )11:42, walked a minute and then ran to the Lusitania and back in 5:35. All in all, 18.5 minutes. I feel good!! It was so sunny with a wonderful breeze to keep me pretty comfortable.

The other part of my good day is that I'm done with midterms! Now I must work hard to catch up on all my reading and work to get ahead before we go to Portugal.

While I was stressing about school today, Dan took the mission team around the city and was their personal tour guide. He enjoyed it until they had lunch and he ordered stomach in tomato sauce, even though he specifically asked the guy what it was. He isn't feel that well. I wanted to go to the sushi house that is going out of business tonight to celebrate the end of finals week. I'm not sure if I can convince him to go eat old fish after eating stomach.

Suppose to Run

Today was suppose to be a running day, but it was quite rainy and cold. I had my physiology midterm and ACED it!!! I was so happy. It was so difficult and I was terrified and ended up doing well! Thank God! His grace is sufficient for all that I lack. I can study, exercise, have fellowship, and rejoice because of His mercy and grace! I can accomplish all things through Him who strengthens me!

Well, I was about to go for a run until a missionary to Spain called Dan. There is a team here from California working with a small church plant. Dan and I first had to go to bus station to get our bus tickets to Portugal on the 30, and then we met up with the team. Whoa...over an hour of walking!!!! It was great!

Tomorrow is the other big midterm...assessment! It's only 8:30 and I'm exhausted, so I should get a good night's sleep and be rested for tomorrow!

In really good news: my Brazilian sister-in-law in reunited with her husband in Washington DC! I am so happy for them! They were married last December, saw each other in March, and can now BE together forever!

My brother's 40th

Well, yesterday was my brother's 40th b-day. I was thrilled to have caught him at home when I called. It's hard to catch people with a 7 hr difference from here to Wisconsin.

The church is really surprising me with their passion for scripture. When we first started going, no one ever quoted the Bible, but now there is a new passion to read from it, quote it, and they just started a class to teach it (only for youth).

It was good to walk yesterday, but even better to run. Reliant K and Switchfoot got me around the first loop in 11 min 38 sec!!!! I walked a minute (I have to stop doing this) and then I ran the second loop in 5:30!!! Whoo hoo!

I wish this took away the exams that I have this week! As for studying, it's going slowly, so I should end this.

Hilarity of Spain

Yes, Spain is a different place. It's a much more relaxed environment than my preferred, Northern European/American ways. So, you all know that I have a terribly busy week ahead and was quite flustered about all my exams, reading, assignments, papers, etc.

Well, Dan and I have to get these residency card to stay in the country because our visa is only for 90 days. Who knows why, because you don't need a visa if you're staying less than 90 days, and you need a residency card if longer than....well...you get my drift.

So, we get to the police station before 9am. Spaniards tend to be on the late side, but we got in around 9ish and waited for the people to get our forms together. We were then given a bill for the cards, but it had to be paid "at a bank". We go to our bank, expecting long lines, and they processed Dan's but my number was wrong. We walk back across town (this helped me get my exercise in for the day) and butted in line to get the right number. We go back to a closer bank and they don't process codes that begin with a 'Y'...of course mine started with 'Y'. Well, we go to another bank and wait and wait and wait. I was getting so nervous that Dan sent me home to get work. I was sweating as I got my stats book and ran back to the police station, where I was questioned by the police. Oh no...my spanish is horrendous. Here I am trying to say that my husband is in there waiting for me. He let me pass, kept an eye on me, and Dan wasn't there. I tried to read. Dan came and there was no line!!! The police officer was much calmer, we got the bills submitted and then found out we can get our cards for another 40-45 days. What????!!!!

So it was 3 weeks ago that we applied for these cards. You have to wait for the application to go through, then pay the bill, then wait for processing! Ha! I love it here!

So...no real exercising yesterday, but I worked up quite a sweat with worrying and running all over town. Good thing I don't have a car.

Today, Dan and I ran this morning for 18 min 30 sec. My first loop was under 12 min again! Oh, it was so windy and a bit chilly. My lungs are still a bit hoarse from gasping for air. I still feel so out of shape.

Good news: I am getting my work done! Soon I will only have the big exams to study for.

Hot and Windy

First I have to say it was great to get out of the house and run. Unfortunately I chose 5pm, the hottest and windiest part of the day. It was so hot and windy that I thought I was going to collapse.

I am proud to say I broke another record for my 1.3 miles: 11 min, 45 sec!!!! I then walked for 1:09 and then ran to the Lusitania bridge and back in 5:34! I ran only 17 min, but it was a hard one with the wind and heat.

I have to say that I'm quite concerned about this weekend and next week. I have an exam in Physiology and in Assessment. I have a quiz in Stats and a homework that I don't have a program in which to do the homework at home. I have an assignment in Financial Management and in Assessment, not to mention the reading that must be done. Needless to say, I am quite overwhelmed!

I promised myself I'd take it a day at a time. Really, when I compare myself to my other classmates, they all have jobs and kids and teaching responsibilities, etc. I have nothing going on and I am stressed.

Matthew 6:27,31,33-34 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Therefore do not be anxious...But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 46:1,10-11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

11:55

Well, the good news is that I ran the first loop (1.3 miles) in 11 min, 55 sec. I wanted to get under 12 min and there I did it :)...barely. I planned to run to the Lusitania bridge like I did yesterday, but my stomach cramped up so badly on the first loop, I was forced to walk to Lusitania (5:15), and then I ran back to the Roman bridge (2:36). Total time: 19:30, total running: 14:15.

Tonight is church across the Roman bridge which is one mile there and back, so I'll get another outing before my full day indoors tomorrow.

Google Earth Experiment

Here is me experimenting with Google Earth. This is my running path from Start/End and follow the numbers.

I just finished running 23 minutes. I ran the first loop of the island (1.3 miles) in 12:25. I felt that I was running quicker than normal, but I guess not. I'd like to get it under 12 someday soon. Other than that, I usually cop out and walk, and I'm proud to say that I made it to the Lusitania bridge.

Salamanca

We got to travel to Salamanca for the weekend! It was a wonderful city and our new found friends are just a joy to hang out with. They showed us around the medieval city and I got lots of pictures.

Fortunately our friends are runners, so we went Saturday and ran for 20 mins. Over the whole weekend, Dan and I did a ton of walking with site seeing, walking to and from the bus station in Mérida and in Salamanca.

Even though I was sick last week, the weekend made up for my lack of exercise! I'm looking forward to a nice run this evening!

Feeling better!

I guess I had one of those 24-48 hour things. I just felt like crap yesterday and today I am almost 100%. I have class most of the day and have a big exam either tonight or in the morning (whenever I choose to take it), so I will not run again today.

Church is going well. Almost 100% of the people do not know the Bible and the only church that they have is worshiping with music. Some people are interested in learning more and I'm hoping that they will incorporate more of the word into the service and not just depend on emotions to "move" them. I'm surprised I haven't gotten to cynical. I actually really love the people and their hearts are in the right place, they just need some guidance.

Pray for Dan and me and our ministry that would be here in Spain. We are definitely being ministered to and would like to give back. We know we are here for a purpose and would like to find that!

sunday

This past Sunday Dan ran around the entire island in 22 min.

ran for 12:25 my 1.3 miles
walked 1:08
ran 3:02
walked 2:32
ran 3:06

So my running total was 18 min, 30 sec. That's pretty good for me.

Yesterday I needed a break, so we didn't run. We did walk to Carrefour and back with our groceries. We usually take the bus back, but we were adventurous.

Today I am under the weather. My tonsils are swollen and my lymph nodes in my neck are swollen. I'm taking it easy again and trying to stay motivated to study for my exam. Good thing it's cloudy and possibly raining. I have all the excuses not to run :)

Exercise Blog

I have a class, Health Behavior and Health Education, which is about teaching patients and being role-models and using many different theories to do that teaching. We are to look at our self first and come up with a plan to become more healthy based on a health assessment. My assessment said to cut out fat and continue with my exercise program. Now, I've been running with Dan, but I thought that would stop as soon as classes started.

I'm happy to say I haven't stopped! I have signed a contract to say I would run and walk a certain amount and one way to keep me motivated is to blog about it.

So I can say that I started running on September 19!!!

Sept 19--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 20--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 21--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 22--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 24--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 25--ran 1.3 miles
Sept 28--ran 1.5 miles

Oct 03--ran 1.8 miles
Oct 04--ran 2.0 miles (I ran my 1.3 in approx 13 min)

Now, the days that I didn't run, I had to be outside and walking for 30 min and I am proud to say that I think there was only one day that I didn't get out and walk. I am feeling a lot better, but I still get these pains in my upper neck and right shoulder when I run too fast. The side aches get me everytime, but my legs aren't as sore, so I've been pushing myself a bit farther.

I have a timer on my ipod that I'm going to start taking out. You'll see that I'm not a runner, but I will hopefully track my progress.